Always dedicated to the people in his community, Mike Sutton was only too pleased to accept a position as Pastor of Liberty Bible Church in Chesterton sixteen years ago. So, Sutton and his wife Cindy, picked up and moved to Northwest Indiana to continue his work with the church. Then, four years ago, Sutton learned that a new branch of Liberty Bible Church was going to be opened in the city of La Porte, so he jumped on the opportunity to guide a new group of people. After holding many masses and gatherings at the Best Western of La Porte, they were able to purchase, remodel, and move into a building of their own, a converted movie theatre where they have been actively holding services for the past year and a half.
From a young age, Sutton has been involved with the church. When he was a college student at the University of Illinois, some people reached out to him personally and shared the message of Christ with him, and he was forever changed.
"It transformed me," Sutton commented. "It had such a profound effect on me that I decided to become a pastor, despite the fact that I got my undergraduate degree in engineering."
He has been involved with the Christian Ministry and the Campus Crusade for Christ since 1981. Currently, his main role at the Liberty Bible Church in La Porte is to give leadership at this locations. His daily responsibilities involve teaching, leading, organizing the programs and services, counseling, and pastoral care.
"Our mission is to love God supremely, and love others sacrificially," Sutton said. "I just do my best to create a church that is living out that mission."
In his spare time, Sutton volunteers his time to various organizations in the area. He serves as the President of the Greater La Porte Ministerial Association, which brings together the pastors of the area so that they can support each other and do shared ministry work in the community. The group has also started an organization called First Step of La Porte, which is an organization that helps coordinate the benevolent needs of the community. One event they put together is called a Share Fest, which is a service day with the churches in the community. They find projects and people in need and go out and serve in the community that day.
"Through my work, I am very privileged to be a part of the 'Sacred Moments' in people's lives, like Baptisms," Sutton enthused. "It's a great thing to be a part of the moment when they are professing their love and dedication to Christ."
Sutton also volunteers on several boards including the Salvation Army in LaPorte, First Step of LaPorte, the Ministerial Board, and the Rotary Club of La Porte. Sutton has also been on the Drug Task Force through the La Porte schools, and is mentoring a young high school student through the National Guard.
In the rest of his free time, Sutton is an avid fisherman. He absolutely loves to fish all year round and actually started a group called Friends of Fishing, which does things to improve the fishing opportunities in Northwest Indiana.
For more information on some of these groups, please visit: www.friendsoffishing.org; www.firststepoflaporte.org; www.lbchurch.org; www.rotaryoflaporte.org.